"It's the old story, if it had happened at night there would have been deaths," Whakatane Mayor Tony Bonne said.

TOM LEE/FAIRFAX NZ

It will be at least seven to ten days before residents can return. Edgecumbe is without power or sewerage.

TOM LEE/FAIRFAX NZ

The estimated 100,000 litres a second of water which coursed through Edgecumbe has left a ruinous path. Now, it's just a trickle. The water has drained from the area which bore the burnt of the force, but flooding west of here remains.

Tony Wall/ Fairfax NZ

Stuff's Tony Wall explores the flooded farms of Edgecumbe in his kayak.

TOM LEE/FAIRFAX NZ

The houses further away from the breach have escaped damage by force, but there is extensive flood damage.

TOM LEE/FAIRFAX NZ

Spray-painted orange 'C' symbols mark the houses that have been preliminarily condemned. "That's had a roadside assessment, and there'll be a second phase of investigation," Whakatane District Council chief executive Marty Grenfell said.

TOM LEE/FAIRFAX NZ

The houses in the immediate path of the water have been shifted metres off their piles.

TOM LEE/FAIRFAX NZ

The wall of water has left a trail of debris in its path.

CHRIS McKEEN/Stuff.co.nz

Work on rebuilding Edgecumbe's flood wall began last week.

TOM LEE/FAIRFAX NZ

Two of the three diggers that have been were working to fill the gap. Dust replaces the dampness. "Who would have thought we'd need dust masks, after the other day," Whakatane District Council chief executive Marty Grenfell.

TOM LEE/FAIRFAX NZ

Diggers managed to plug the breach at 11pm on Friday night. A stream of 13 trucks continue to pour dirt from a local quarry onto the new bank.

CHRIS MCKEEN/FAIRFAX NZ

The mayor fronts disgruntled Edgecumbe residents at an emergency town hall meeting on Saturday.